Downwind Surf Ski Race Gold Coast 

That’s good to hear that things will get better. I’ve done a fair bit of paddling since the video and you’re right, things just click each time. Maybe one day I’ll get to Hong Kong and have a go there!

My advice: get a really stable ski! Good luck mate

It’s really cool you get something out of these videos. My truth is i just don’t paddle enough to really get big gains from the sport. I’m committed to triathlon right now but I really want to give paddling a real go at some point.

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda I get so much out of these videos, I just bought your t-shirt.

Thanks mate. You’re a legend!

I’m happy I entertained you. Thankfully I’m a strong swimmer. There’s 2 sayings I keep hearing: ability before stability and time in the boat. Good luck and thanks for watching

These are all great tips. Thanks. You’re not the first to say shorten my paddle. I’ll definitely try that.

Thanks mate. It’s nice to know that me falling in a thousand times inspires peor😂

Thanks for your comment Scott. I think part of my problem is I’m very competitive by nature but not competitive in this style of racing.

Glad I could make you laugh 😂

Thanks for your comments. I’m really trying to work on my technique in flat water right now. Maybe I’ll give downwind another go when I can practise more regularly. I use to live in the Gold Coast but now I’m in Brisbane and don’t get to the ocean much. Yes, I know Julian. Amanda bought her ski from him.

And this definitely doesn’t suit my skill level 🤣🤣

Thanks mate. I’m here to say that anyone can give it a go. Don’t compare yourself to the pros - you’re right, they make it look easy.

Thanks mate. I’m trying to get out more often to get better at my technique before tackling more downwinds

Thanks for watching

Good luck with it mate. I find the older I get the less stable I get, but you also just have to keep practising

Thanks! I’m determined to get better at this

Good on you John. Follow your heart.

It’s a love / hate relationship. Definitely give it a go

Thanks. I’d love to go paddling with you there one day. Feel free to contact me via Insta if you’re interested @trifit.Tim.Amanda

Great tip. Thanks mate

Thanks for your comment Scott. It takes a lot more practise than the pros make it look like.

Thanks mate

Thanks for your comment Peter. I watch a lot of Oscar and Ivan’s videos and I know my technique isn’t great. I’ll keep working on it and I’m sure it’ll improve over time.

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda No worries, Tim. Over the past 18 months of learning I've been writing a series of "Newbie Notes" in the Surfski Kayak group on Facebook, which has both of those champs in it - worth joining! Anyway, fwiw, when I go out these days, I generally think of just the same 5 fundamentals: 1. Adjust the heel rest to as close to the body as possible while still being able to straighten the driving leg. Start with it too close and then gradually lengthen it. Oh, and begin with the paddle on zero feather per Oscar and then gradually increase it to +30 on your dominant hand per Ivan ... 2. Top arm's elbow weighted down and close to the rotating body throughout the stroke - never straighten it. If I do this part right I expect to see my top hand pass horizontally in front of my eyes throughout the stroke. 3. Let the wing blade slide out while driving the heel forward. That increases your leverage while generating lift so long as you're also weighting down on the paddle. If I do this right I expect no splash on blade entry or exit. 4. Both arms stay "broken" - neither straight nor bent - and fixed throughout the stroke. With the chest and shoulders they make a rigid box that I rotate with my core. Doing this right gives me a feeling of "3 legged stool" on the water - where the legs are hand, hip and heel. 5. Lean forward on the bump to accelerate. Start paddling when the water is "uphill" in front of you, and stop paddling before the crest gets under you. Basically, if you have a bump in front of you, you almost certainly have one behind you too ... hence "keep the nose in the hole" and so on. No idea if any of those will be useful to you but just trying to explain them is useful to me ;-)

Sounds like you’ve got a spec ski. They’re as tippy as anything! Where do you live? We should catch up for a paddle

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda i live in yeppoon central queensland. yeah its pretty fun lol that would be great if your ever around or if im ever down south with my ski

We just passed through Rocky on our way back to Brisbane. We’ll be back there next year

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda yeah sweet! ill keep an eye on the channel mate have to go for a paddle at some point

Our Insta or Fb are more current. Sometimes our RU-vid is a little behind.

The boats not trembling, I am! Thanks for your confidence

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda show yourself that you can do it.

Mate really cool advice. Thank you I’ll try it

This is really individual. Oscar advocates it, but finds he doesn't cope with zero degrees himself. I think you have the angle right when the none-dominant paddle just naturally enters the water at 90 degrees to the boat.

@@Alastair510 Oscar has trouble because he's been doing it for 45 years with rotation. Tim should be fine

I feel the paddle angle is correct after lots of trial and error

Glad you liked it

Thanks for watching!

Thanks mate

Hahah I have no idea 🤷🏻‍♂️ I was in my more stable ski though

It’s an incredibly frustrating sport!

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda it takes some detirmination, all my friends who try on my old anderson roll off the whole time lol

It’s a GoPro on a mount on the ski. The GoPro has its own stabilisation

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda Jeez. Really works. I nice

Yeah it’s definitely one of the best things about the gopro

Thanks Yiannis. Not really my idea of fun. I thought it would be, but it’s not

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda Thats a shame, I might think the same after giving it a go

I love ‘playing’ in the surf and trying to surf the waves but the long race just isn’t my thing

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda fair enough

That’s an awesome idea. Do you have a double? And when are we doing it?

Definitely not a Gold medal 😂🤣

Correct, correct and correct. I train for 4 sports so it’s very difficult to master any of them.

I totally agree with all your points about wiggling and being tense and not rotating enough! I’ve struggled to paddle in the last few months and am looking forward to getting back out there. I remembered your name from your other comments. I appreciate your feedback and encouragement.

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda How about trying some rough flat waster.

Yeah, thanks for the comment. I am starting to work on the legs and core rotation. It all takes time!

I can’t get a much more stable boat than the Think. I’ve had plenty of practise with the remount!

Thanks mate. I’m living further from the beach than I use to so don’t get much chance to practise in the surf as I’d like. I’ll get there and I’m sure I’ll do some more downwinding again

Definitely the mullet slowed me down. And eating sweets made me feel better.

@@TriFitwithTimandAmanda The only solution is to grow it bigger. Surely the bigger it is, the bigger the aero benefit - like an aero TT helmet!

Now there’s an idea 💡